Mother And ChildOpera in one act
for:
soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto
two cellos and 4-hand-piano
by
Whyte & McClure
Ron Whyte, librettist / Lee McClure, composer
Scenario:
A young Italian mother, Angelina, confronts the birth of her baby who is born without hands or feet. She is shunned by her neighbors who say that her baby has “the evil eye”. In her subsequent stages of fear and guilt, she appeals to her statue of the Virgin Mary for guidance. After asking if she should “give her baby back”, she receives no answer. In hysterical anger she damages the statue and smashes rosary beads. When her baby quietly coughs, she sings her a lullaby and decides she wants her baby to live. During a moment of desolation, she experiences an epiphany of how to save her baby girl and finds the will to action.
Angelina (soprano) is accompanied by a Greek chorus (mezzo and alto) who take on the voices of Angelina, her doctor, and community members.
A longer scenario and complete libretto can be found in the score for Mother And Child.
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In 2013 Lee McClure produced and directed this film of the staged reading of Mother And Child that was videotaped on May 23,1990 at The Cathedral St. John The Divine (New York City). The film includes subtitles and duration of 48 minutes.
The May 23, 1990 performance was reviewed in the New York Times:
When Mother And Child is performed with Whyte & McClure’s companion opera, VOICE, they are collectively called Life Songs. The film of VOICE, also with subtitles, can bee seen at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ6cSRehZ34 – This film of Mother And Child can also be viewed on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtiSiK_hZOA&t=2393sFILM CREDITS - Mother And Child
Cast:
Judi Silvano, soprano, role: Angelina
Linda LoPresti, mezzo-soprano, role: Mother #2 (Greek chorus)
Holly Durniak, contralto, role: Mother #3 (Greek chorus)
Cynthia Izzo, role: babysitter (non-speaking), chorus member
Artistic Staff:
Bill Grossman, music director, conductor
Stephen McCabe, stage director
Liz Goodall, props designer
Musicians:
Mike Finkel, David Runnion – cellos
Neil Swanson, Christopher Vassiliades – 4-hand-piano
Audio/Video editing, titles, subtitles, montages, postproduction:
Brian O’Neill
Videography:
Vernita Nemec, Tequila Minsky
Timeline: (duration: 48 minutes)
0:00 title credits 25:55
Now you are human0:28 about the opera 27:10
Where is the sign?1:15
How's the baby? 29:01
My poor baby5:32 transition 31:16
Every baby is beautiful7:14
When I was a girl 33:12
Why am I such a fool?8:54
My husband 34:35 transition
11:33
Beautiful soul 35:16
Help! Call a priest13;07
My baby has no legs 36:31
Her arms, her feet14:36
She smiles 38:05
This is a sign16:06
We are all Italian 40:22
I promise to love my baby17:20
Even the men 44:27
Hail Mary full of grace 19:30
The doctor says 45:44
She looked down22:03
You don't answer 46:30 end credits
24:09
You shall not
